Improvement in seals for dip-pipes in gas apparatus



No. 11 8,6 o a,

Patented Aug. 29,1871..

UNITED STATES ALONZO F. HAVENS, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN SEALS FOR DIP-PIPES IN GAS APPARATUS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 118,608, dated August 29, 1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALONZO F. HAvENs, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented an Improvement in Gas Apparatusseal for rising-main--and the following is declared to be a correct description thereof.

In the rising-main, Vfrom the retort to thehorizontal main, a water-seal is usually employed for preventing the escape of gas when the retort is opened. This waterseal is detrimental, because it is necessary to generate in the retort a suiiicient pressure to overcome the water of the seal before the gas can pass through. Valves have been employed at this point, but they are unreliable in consequence of the tar and other accumulations.

My invention contains the advantageous features of the water-seal, and provides for entirely opening the gas-main. I make use of a doubleacting water-seal, operated in connection with the retort-cover, so that the act of putting on said cover shall open the seal to the main, and the removal of the cover from the retort closes the main with the water-seal. When the seal is raised to open the pipe to the main the tube of the rod is sealed, thereby preventing the escape of gas, and rendering any packing around said rod unnecessary.

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a vertical section of said improved gas apparatus, and Fig. 2 is a section of the seal in larger size.

The retort a, rising-pipe b, cap or cover c to the retort, and horizontal main d are of any desired size or character. Between the rising-main b and main d is a chamber, c, containing the double-acting seal f, attached to the lower end ofthe rod g. This seal is made of a bell-shape, so that the edges may dip into the water-space t' around the tube o, that connects with the main d, and thereby effectually closes the inlet to said main l when the seal fis lowered. The center portion of the seal f is recessed around the rod g, and forms a water-receptacle, r, which water seals the lower end of the tube s, through which the rod g passes loosely, thereby effeetually closing said tube s when the seal is raised, asin Fig. l, to open the inlet o to the main el for the passage of gas from the retort.

By this construction of double-acting waterseal the respective parts are made gastight at the proper time, and there is no friction or liability to become obstructed in the free movement of the seal and its rod, and packing-glands are dispensed with.

In order to insure an automatic movement of the double`actin g seal I connect the same, through the lever t and wire rope or chain u, to the retortcover c, to the bridge c, or to any other moving part, so that when the retort-cover is removed the seal will close by its own weight, or by an additional weight, so as to seal the main d; and when the said moving part is placed upon the retort the act of doing so will draw up the seal a-nd open the pipe o to the main d, for the free escape of the gas generated in the retort, and simultaneously seal the tube s of the rod g.

The end o of the retort a is made as a funnel, Haring from the retort to a circular ring that receives the cover e. In this construction the retortcover and its seat, being both round, will lit a-t any point, and the coal can also be inserted more easily into the retort. The cover is to be provided with a yielding packing', of asbestus or other suitable material, introduced into a groove, as seen in Fig. 3, and a rib on the circular end of the retort forms a tight joint when the parts are pressed together, without the use of a clay luting, as heretofore employed.

I claim as my inventionl. The double-acting seal interposed between the retort and the gas-main, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The water-seal connected with the cover or movable portion of the retort, substantially as set forth, so that the seal is opened automatically in opening and closing the retort.

3. The method herein specified of opening and closing the connection between the retort and main by automatic mechanism that is operated simultaneously with the closing and opening of the retort, substantially as set forth.

Signed by me this 19th day of June, A. D. 1871.

ALONZO F. HAVEN S.

Witnesses:

HAEoLnSERRELL, GEO. T. PJNGKNEY. 

